12/08/2009

Many Injured In Big Dipper Crash

Thirty people have been hurt in a rollercoaster ride crash at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Riders became stranded 20ft in the air when two carriages collided on the Big Dipper after one of them became jammed on the rails on Tuesday evening.

The ambulance service said 21 casualties were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital with facial, back and neck injuries. Others who suffered minor cuts and shock were treated at the scene.

Two people had to be cut free by firefighters.

A spokesman for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said they were co-operating with the Health and Safety Executive and an investigation into the incident had begun.

The wooden rollercoaster is now closed.

Mark Alderson, Station Manager at South Shore fire station, said: "We started to evacuate the people that were trapped at the high level.

"These casualties were the 'walking wounded' and only had minor injuries.

"They were removed from the carriages and away from the incident to a casualty clearing station.

"The more seriously injured were stabilised in position, we then took the casualties from the ride in stretchers and down on to the ground level using specialist rope rescue equipment."

Blackpool Pleasure Beach attracts more than seven million customers a year.

The Big Dipper was opened in 1923.

(GK/BMcc)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

21 May 2004
Blackpool Pleasure Beach to reopen following fire
The Blackpool Pleasure Beach complex is expected to reopen later today just hours after firefighters dealth with a blaze which damaged three rides at the attraction. Ten fire crews were called to tackle the blaze at the Lancashire leisure complex at around 9.30pm last night. The attraction was closed at the time and no-one was injured in the blaze.
30 July 2009
Funfair Ride Collapse Injures Two
Two people have been treated for injuries they sustained after the arm of a funfair ride in Lancashire collapsed and crashed to the ground. An arm on the Crazy Frog, at the Central Pier, snapped off just before 10.30pm on Wednesday. The casualties were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital after the incident.
17 August 2015
Torso And 'Other Body Parts' Found On Blackpool Beach
A decomposed torso and "other body parts" have been found on a beach in Blackpool. Lancashire Police have reported that the discovery was made just before 9am on Sunday in Queen's Promenade, opposite the junction with Cavendish Road. The gender of the victim is not yet known.
29 July 2010
Teenager Drowns At Blackpool Beach
A 14-year-old boy has drowned off Blackpool beach. Liverpool Coastguard were called after two teenagers were spotted in trouble in the sea by Blackpool's Central Pier around 3:40pm yesterday.
27 June 2008
Blackpool Celebrates National Veterans' Day
Thousands of people are expected to congregate in Blackpool to recognise the work of Britain's armed forces. The Duchess of Cornwall will also attend the third annual National Veteran's Day. Veterans Minister Derek Twigg and Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, will also attend.